Africa Climate Summit Calls for Climate Finance Rethink

Adaptation solutions, which are crucial to reducing a community’s vulnerability to climate change remain underfunded—though the issue could not be more pressing. The problem lies in a lack of urgency, said Jacob Thoppil, head of partnerships at the Climate Investment Funds: “There needs to be an acceptance that we are in a climate crisis.” 

The summit concluded with a closing plenary, during which Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia, shared his hopes that Africa will be “not just at the table, but setting the global agenda as a continent that is greener, prosperous, and more united.”

The momentum shown throughout the days, from financial contributions to conversations that centered climate solutions made by and for Africa, proved that the continent is moving in that direction. “Africa’s future is in Africa’s hands,” said Selassie. “And we are building it now.”

Coverage of the Second Africa Climate Summit is presented by the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance.